The austerity drive announced by Prime MinisterDato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak the morning before New Year’s eve probably driven a startof bigger spending cuts. Especially theexcessive and luxury bit, which is more likely many times over as compared to thesavings to the cost saving exercise, whichsaw meagre salary and entertainment allowances cut.

The excessive expenditure particularly inquestion is the ‘Travels in Luxury’.

The ACJ319 with the tail number 9M-NAA in a more recent livery

On 3 October 2013 Minister in PM’sDepartment Dato’ Seri Shahidan Kassimdisclosed that the cost of PM Najib’sannual rental and maintenance of VVIPjet utilised to ferry him aroundRM34.3 million. That is without the fueland food and beverages bill andother operational charges.

Another interesting story by The MalayMail is that RM180 million wasthe bigger tab, encompassing all thecost related to Prime Minister’s travel.